The $29.99 McAfee Mobile Security app offers a wide range of security features for Android smartphones and tablets. Versions for Symbian and BlackBerry are also available, with slightly reduced feature sets. As in the previous edition, it includes full-scale antivirus protection and features to help recover a lost or stolen phone. New in this edition, it checks for apps that help themselves to too much of your private data and optionally blocks calls and texts from specific phone numbers.

When deciding on a mobile virus protection software application for your smartphone, McAfee Mobile Security may be an easy choice for you, especially if you are familiar with and already use McAfee's other software applications for your PC, laptop or tablet. If you are looking for an application that offers great antivirus protection and a decent feature list, our recommended app is a terrific option. If you want a cell phone virus protection application specifically for its parental control options, however, this application is not for you.

On the other hand, before you purchase McAfee Mobile Security, double check your phone and its operating system. This mobile antivirus software operates on Android systems 2.1–4.0, BlackBerry 4.5, 4.6, 4.7, 5.0, 6.0 and 7.0, and Symbian S60 third and fifth editions.

Protection : 9.5/10

At any time you can launch a full scan to detect any existing malware on your device. Once it's clean, McAfee works in the background to block any new malware infestations. Like Lookout Mobile Security, Webroot Mobile Security for Android, and others, it also offers website reputation information. Using McAfee's SiteAdvisor database, the app keeps you away from malicious sites, phishing sites, and even malicious QR codes.

An app that isn't actively malicious might still be poking into too much of your private information. The new App Alert feature analyzes all of your apps and ranks them by their level of access to sensitive information. You can get detailed information about just what private data each app can access. App Alert also checks to make sure your apps aren't communicating with unsavory websites. If you think a particular app is just too nosey, you can uninstall it with a click.

Security Features : 9/10

McAfee offers a range of options for dealing with a lost or stolen phone. If you've simply misplaced it, activating the screamer will reveal its location. You can also check its location from McAfee's Web portal. As a precaution, you can lock the phone so anyone finding it can't get at your data. And if you've given up on recovery, you can wipe its data.

A thief might think to avoid detection by swapping in a different SIM card; that thief would be wrong. McAfee automatically locks the phone if the SIM card is removed. Remote lock and wipe can be activated either from the Web portal or by sending a coded SMS message to the phone.

Many mobile security products will back up your contacts. A few will back up your photos, or your calendar. Lookout and Snuko Anti-Theft For Mobiles include call history in their backups. On Android devices, McAfee backs up contacts, photos, and call history. The BlackBerry and Symbian editions also back up the calendar.

Your backed-up data is stored online, associated with your McAfee account. You can restore it to any device, not just the one from which you backed up the data.

McAfee Mobile Security also allows you to blacklist any phone number. Calls and texts from a blocked number just won't go through. There's also an option to block any caller who's not in your contact list, thereby eliminating spam texts, wrong numbers, and the like.

Help and Support : 9/10

It is no surprise that McAfee offers great customer service and technical support. We are most impressed with the additional help features, including the FAQs and Community section. If you are part of the Home and Home Office Community, you can use the browse option to search for keywords, read blog posts, submit your idea for how to improve the application and more.

You can reach McAfee's customer and technical support via live chat, email and phone.

Conclusion

If you are a parent looking to protect your children from the ills of the online world, McAfee Mobile Security may not be the cell phone virus protection application for you. However, this mobile virus protection software is fantastic for everyday use. It protects your data and personal information from viruses and malware, and from hackers and prying eyes if your phone is stolen or accidentally lost. We are most impressed with the cloud storage and the ability to back up and restore your data to your phone after a mishap, or to a new device.